SE Arizona Birding Day 3, June 22: Madera Canyon and Arivaca

After spending the night in Coronado National Forest near Madera Canyon, we were in a prime birding location at daybreak.  We drove down the road leading into Madera Canyon Road, and stopped at some of the feeders located at a few private homes that invite birders, but didn't see anything out of the ordinary.  At the end of Madera Canyon Road, we found these two gobblers displaying near 5 hen turkeys.

Next we walked up the Carrie Nation Trail, where two Elegant Trogons have been reliably seen.   Madera Canyon is one of the best places in the United States to see trogons, so we were very hopeful as we heard two calling from the bottom of the canyon.  On our way up, we found this fledgling Black-headed Grosbeak, being fed by one of its parents.

fledgling Black-headed Grosbeak

As we hiked higher and higher, we noticed another trogon calling even farther up the canyon.  The first trogon seemed to be across the canyon from us, so we decided to track down the second.  Following its calls was very easy, since it seemed to be calling constantly.  Finally, we passed into the second wash on the trail, and the trogon sounded very close.  We looked up to see it perched in a dead pine tree, calling at least every 15 seconds.  It couldn't even be bothered to look down at us, even though we were right below it.  After a few minutes, it flew to a nearbu cavity in a sycamore tree and perched on it.  It then proceeded to call into the cavity for the next 30 minutes while we watched it!  Apparently, when a trogon finds a nest cavity, it calls to attract a female, and if one is in the area, it may begin to inspect the cavity if it seems suitable to her.  Unfortunately for this trogon, no females seemed to be around.  A few birders told us that in the two weeks prior, a female was in the canyon, but only briefly.  This trogon was persistent though, and if a female was anywhere in the canyon, I'm sure she would hear his constant calls.  After a while, the trogon flew higher up into the canyon, likely to another cavity, and began calling again.

Meanwhile, down the canyon, the other trogon was still calling.  As we were observing a Hutton's Vireo nest, we heard trogon #2 get closer and closer, and spotted his bright red plumage from across the canyon.  He eventually flew up towards the second wash to the territory of Trogon #1, but then flew back down the canyon a little; apparently this is where their territories meet.  He then flew from tree to tree near us, calling and proclaiming the boundary of his territory.

trogon #1

trogon #1

trogon #2

While we were watching the trogons, this Magnificent Hummingbird came and perched right next to me!

Magnificent Hummingbird

On our way down the trail after watching the trogons, we found this king snake along the trail.  This one is a mimic of the more poisonous coral snake.

king snake

Hutton's Vireo nest

After leaving the Carrie Nation Trail, we stopped at the bird feeders again.  Nearby along the road was a family of Painted Redstarts, moving around like small robots in the brush.  At another feeder, there were many Lesser Goldfinch and Mexican Jays, with occasional visits by a few other common birds.  While we were here, we heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo contact call in the distance, and answered by a coo call.  As we left the feeder, we saw the cooing bird fly across the road towards the other bird.  Other birders say that cuckoos always seem to migrate into the canyon, but don't seem to stay the summer to nest.

juvenile Painted Redstart

Adult Painted Redstart

Mexican Jay

At the mouth of the canyon, we stopped to look for Botteri's Sparrow and Northern Bearless Tyranulet, which a few other birders had seen in the area.  We didn't find anything of note here, though, besides Lucy's Warblers and a cicada that seemed to be posing for photos.

Alex at the head of Madera Canyon

Cicada (cuckoo food!)

Next, we headed for the town of Arivaca, near California Gulch.  California Gulch is the best place in the country to see Five-striped sparrow, but it was the hottest part of the day so we didn't think we'd have a good chance at seeing them.  Instead, we stopped at the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Cienega.  Vermillion Flycatchers were the most numerous bird here.  They were literally everywhere you looked.  We also quickly found a Gray Hawk.  This was also an excellent spot for butterflies.  Most were small and fast and not easily photographed, except for the Texan Crescent.

Texan Crescent

Vermillion Flycatchers

Also around were a number of Common Ground doves.  Many lizards also scurried around, including one we hadn't seen before.  Once again, we heard Yellow-billed Cuckoos calling.  Both pairs knocked at us as we passed the trees they were in on the trails edge, and both pairs may have been nesting or at least thinking about it.

Common Ground Dove

unknown lizard species

Yellow-billed Cuckoo location at Buenos Aires NWR Cienega

Our next stop was Arivaca Lake.  On the rocky road leading into the lake, we found a few Hooded Orioles, but in general it was too hot for most other birds to be out.

male hooded oriole

At the lake, birding was good, as most birds were seeking refuge by the cool edge of the water.  This Blue Grosbeak was near a Black Phoebe, which was only the second Blacl Phoebe we have ever seen.  At the lake, we found a pair of Gray Hawks, and also a Black Vulture.  The Gray Hawks were likely nesting nearby, but disappeared quickly from sight.  There were also many dragonflies around, this being one of the best spots we've been for dragonflies. 

Blue Grosbeak

female widow skimmer

Black Phoebe

Next, we headed to California Gulch, in hopes to get a glimpe of a Five-striped Sparrow.  The road in to this location is a rocky, bumpy 4-wheel drive only road, which makes the 6 mile road take at least an hour (when you add in a few stops for birding).  On the way in, we saw many Canyon Towhee, a pair of Gray Hawks, and this Red-tail that was soaring over a canyon at eye level.  We made an attempt at seeing the Five-striped Sparrows, but were too late in the day.  Instead we found yet another pair of Yellow-billed Cuckoos, which seemed to be everywhere we went!  We spent the night at an old mine site in the state forest, which is a good spot to see Common Poorwills.  Unfortunately, we didn't see any, but did hear a Western Screech Owl calling nearby.

Red-tailed Hawk